Bobby Moonlight
what’s behind the door
hiding underneath the bed
white whiskers and fur
I can see your eyes
like a starry summer night
glowing like the moon
heaven knows I tried
bribing with treats and catnip
you hunker down low
I’ll see you at dawn
my little Bobby Moonlight
until then, sweet dreams
Colleen Keller Breuning © 2020
November 20, 2020
We are doing a foster to adopt with a 5 month old tiger cat named Moonlight. However, because we prefer “real” names for our cats, we have decided to rename him Bobby (after my uncle). For the time being his full name will be Bobby Moonlight (sounds like a rock star). Since he’s used to being called Moonlight, we want him to recognize his name for now until he gets used to Bobby. Of course, we always have multiple nicknames for our cats so he’ll also be called Bob, Bobcat, Mr. Moonlight, any other variation we think of…. 😉
The reason we’re doing a foster to adopt is that because of COVID-19, the adoption process has slowed down and substantially changed. Since we were not able to actually go in person to the foster mom’s home to spend time with him in his environment, they recommended we go this route as a trial. 90% in this situation end up adopting, and that is our intention unless he’s simply not able to adapt. We had been looking at kittens, but they’re in high demand. Seems the older the kitten or cat, the more challenging to get them adopted out. Bobby is technically still a kitten, but he stayed longer in foster because he needed a little more socialization. But the foster mom reports he is loving, enjoys being with other cats and is a purr machine. The fact that he’s a little older than 8-10 weeks may actually make for a better integration with Rudy, since he’s bigger and could stand up to him better than a tiny kitten.
We have put him in a safe bedroom, which is Katie’s old bedroom. We had it all set up with the usual cat things. When he arrived with his foster Mom, I took him directly up there and opened his carrier. He scurried right and and under the bed where he has stayed hidden all day. I’ve spent much of the evening lying on the floor meowing and pretending to be a kitten…. that has elicited the most response and he’s at least come out of the box springs (Rudy’s former hiding place). Overnight he ate, drank and used the litter box, which is a good thing. Eventually he will get curious and leave his hiding place to check me out. This is totally normal, but I’m dying to be able to see and pet him. It always takes time, and I’m not the most patient person lol.
In the meantime, Rudy is energized since he knows there’s another cat in the house. He is keeping watch on the closed up bedroom, and is dying to get in there. When I’m in there he’s sticking his paw under the door. It’s too early to introduce them, will take days if not a week or more until we allow them to see each other for the first time. We did foster to adopt because of COVID and the fact that Bobby is a little older, which sometimes is hard to integrate. We want to make sure both cats are accepting of each other, but I suspect things will work out okay in the end.
Side note: The above picture is not Bobby, it’s from Flickr. But he does look similar to this, and I’ll post pics when he comes out…
Week 37.13 Topic: What’s Behind the Door?
Hard Bonus (2 points): Use a lyric from the song “Misty Blue” (any version or artist) (“heaven knows I tried”)
Easy Bonus (1 Point): Include a Ray Stevens lyric (“like a starry summer night”)
SECRET BONUS GUESSES:
1. Super freak
2. I mustache you a question
3. Forgot to shave
4. Black beauty
5. Porn stache
6. Beer mustache
7. Chocolate Stout Beer
8. Goth Rocks
9. Here for the Beer
10. Chrissie Hynde Look Alike
Topic: Christopher Pic: Jonathan
Colleen Keller Breuning 
Oh, Bobby Moonlight, sounds amazing. I hope he warms up soon. Cats do everything in their own time and way, as you know. I like the idea of fostering to adopt. I had my eye on a dog called “Moon Pie” and thought the same thing, love the name, but not an easy one to call out. lol Not sure he is still adoptable, but I know some day my next pet will find me. Good luck with yours!! Such happy news.
Thank you Christine! Awwww Moon Pie! I hope your next pet finds you soon. At our Humane Society, adoptions were up so significantly because of people being home during COVID-19 that there were very few dogs available. Also, the younger kittens were being snatched up pretty quickly. We tried to adopt an 8 week ginger tabby but someone applied for him before me and got him. I saw Moonlight on the PetFinder app the past few weeks and kept going back to him, I thought he was beautiful and something about him pulled at my heartstrings. I’ll keep you posted! ❤
Hiding in a new environment is normal for a cat until they get used to the smells and activity. He’ll get bored and start exploring soon.
You’re right! I’m sure the poor thing is overwhelmed and needs time to adjust. I had hoped we could visit him at the foster mom home, that would’ve at least given us a chance to see him in person. He immediately ran for cover when I took him into the room, so I only got a glimpse of him in the carrier! 😉
Cats are very special. Once you have earned that love and trust, you’ll have that friend forever, but then you know this. I’m happy for your new addition, for you and for Bobby. Once he gets comfortable and understands he’s safe, he is going to learn what a wonderful blessing be part of your family is.
Thanks so much, Rebecca! Rudy needs a playmate, and he knows there’s a cat in there. He’s been sitting in the upstairs hallway keeping guard. Hopefully he isn’t scaring Bobby…I would think not, as the foster Mom had many cats and kittens in her home. She said he loves hanging out with other cats, so that is good! But Rudy’s impatient, just like me haha! 😀 ❤
I think we are all from time to time.
Bob has always been my “go to” name for male animals. So love that you are going with it.Good luck on working him into your household.
As Dan and I were throwing out various names, I said “Let’s name him Barry White!” I got a big eye roll. The funny thing is that Dan’s brother name is also Bob, so he probably thinks we’re naming the cat after him lol! 😉
Congratulations. We look forward to seeing Bobby and hearing some interesting cat tales! 8 points Earthling!
Thank you Marvin! ❤
🙂 This reminded me of when we got my nephew’s puppy. It already had Precious for a name and since it was used to that name and my nephew wanted its name to be Twinkiw, we had to call her Precious Twinkie for some time. 🙂
Awwww….. I always feel guilty changing the name even when a pet is young – but it’s more common than not. According to the foster Mom, she didn’t even call him Moonlight half the time. She called him Goose for some reason lol!!!! 😉 ❤ Which is funny, because I also usually have about 10 nicknames for each of my pets LOL
“Mr. Moonlight” by The Beatles, from their classic early years… I watch the movie, “A Hard Day’s Night” yesterday… Oh, wait… “Yesterday” is another classic Beatles track from back in that day. (I can do this for hours. It is my pre-set.)
My sister adopts feral cats. She has them spayed and neutered, checked out by vet and all problems taken care of. Each one has its own heated outdoor box with a cozy rug. They run wild like before but are now well fed and cared for. She also has two indoor cats. She just adopted a 14 week old kitten that had been left at a gas station.